Acts 16:16-34
Once, while we were going to the place for prayer, a servant girl met us. She had a special spirit in her. She earned a lot of money for her owners by telling fortunes. This girl followed Paul and us. She said loudly, “These men are servants of the Most High God! They are telling you how you can be saved!”
She kept this up for many days. This bothered Paul, so he turned and said to the spirit, “By the power of Jesus Christ, I command you to come out of her!” Immediately, the spirit came out.
The owners of the servant girl saw this. These men knew that now they could not use her to make money. So they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the city rulers in the marketplace. Here they brought Paul and Silas to the Roman rulers and said, “These men are Jews and are making trouble in our city. They are teaching things that are not right for us as Romans to do.”
The crowd joined the attack against them. The Roman officers tore the clothes of Paul and Silas and had them beaten with rods again and again. Then Paul and Silas were thrown into jail. The jailer was ordered to guard them carefully. When he heard this order, he put them far inside the jail. He pinned down their feet between large blocks of wood.
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing songs to God. The other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly, there was a big earthquake. It was so strong that it shook the foundation of the jail. Then all the doors of the jail broke open. He thought that the prisoners had already escaped. So he got his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul shouted, “Don’t hurt yourself! We are all here!”
The jailer told someone to bring a light. Then he ran inside. Shaking with fear, he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them outside and said, “Men, what must I do to be saved?”
They said to him, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved — you and all the people in your house.” so Paul and Silas told the message of the Lord to the jailer and all the people in h is house. At the hour of the night the jailer took Paul and Silas and washed their wounds. Then he and all his people were baptized immediately. After this the jailer took Paul and Silas home and gave them food. He and his family were very happy because they now believed in God.
Discussion Questions
- Where did Paul and Silas have to go? Jail
- What did they do in jail? Pray and Sang
- There was an earthquake that shook the jail door open. Did all the people inside leave? No
- What did Paul and Silas tell the Jailer? How to be saved.
- What do you have to do to be saved? Believe in the Lord Jesus
Prayer
Dear God,
Thank you for the story of Paul and Silas. Help us to remember to trust in you even when things seem very bad. Just like in this story you always love and protect us and we thank you for that. Amen.
Bible Verse for May
“Love your neighbor.”
Matthew 22:39
